Hellenic Seaways
Hellenic Seaways is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 2005. Hellenic Seaways is subsidiary of Attica Group along with Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, and Africa Morocco Link, which operates 35 vessels providing modern, high-quality transportation services in Greece and abroad. Attica's vessels serve 60 unique destinations in 4 countries, connecting 71 ports transporting over 7 million passengers, 1 million passenger vehicles, and 400,000 trucks every year.
![](../I/Commons-logo.svg.png.webp)
![]() | |
Type | Private |
---|---|
Predecessor | Hellas Ferries |
Founded | 2005 |
Headquarters | Kallithea, , Greece |
Area served | Greek Islands, Italy |
Key people | Konstantinos Klironomos (Chairman) Antonios Agapitos (CEO)[1] |
Products | Shipping |
Services | Passenger transportation Freight transportation |
Revenue | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | |
Total assets | ![]() |
Total equity | ![]() |
Owner | Attica Group[3] (98.83%) |
Number of employees | 1,008 (2015) |
Parent | Attica Group |
Website | www.hellenicseaways.gr |
![](../I/HSWFlyingCat4.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Ferry-arcadia-venice.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Flying_Dolphin_XVII_haut.jpg.webp)
History
Hellenic Seaways was created in 2005 following the consolidation of Minoan Flying Dolphins and its subsidiaries Hellas Flying Dolphins, Hellas Ferries, Saronikos Ferries, and Sporades Ferries.
It is the biggest Greek shipping Company, which operates 21 vessels, 9 conventional, and 12 high-speed, servicing more than 35 ports in the Cyclades, North East Aegean, South East Aegean, Crete, Argosaronikos, and Sporades.[4]
In August 2009, Hellenic Seaways purchased the single-ship, budget cruise line easyCruise from founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou.[5]
In January 2011, Minoan Lines (Heraklion) cancelled the sale of its 33.35% stake in Hellenic Seaways to ANEK and tried to find a new buyer for it.[6]
In June 2018, Minoan Lines (Heraklion) sold its 48.53% stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group for €78.5 million.[7]
Current fleet
Hellenic Seaways operate a large fleet of high-speed craft[8][9] and conventional ferries.[10]
Conventional ferries
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Cars | Knots | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Artemis | ![]() |
1997 | 1,612 GT | 89.8 m | 14 m | 1,250 | 74 | 18 | |
Express Skiathos | ![]() |
1996 | 1,996 GT | 77.9 m | 22 m | 1,390 | 184 | 19 | |
Nissos Rodos | ![]() |
1987 | 29,733 GT | 192.5 m | 27 m | 2,210 | 748 | 22 | |
Nissos Samos | ![]() |
1988 | 30,435 GT | 192.9 m | 29.4 m | 2,202 | 656 | 20.5 | |
Ariadne | ![]() |
1996 | 30,882 GT | 196 m | 27 m | 2,045 | 639 | 27.5 |
Highspeed series
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Cars | Knots | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highspeed 4 | ![]() |
2000 | 6,274 GT | 92 m | 24 m | 1,004 | 188 | 40.5 | |
Hellenic Highspeed | ![]() |
1997 | 4,463 GT | 100 m | 17 m | 724 | 165 | 35 | Serves the line Algeciras–Tanger Med |
AERO Highspeed series
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Knots | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AERO 1 Highspeed | ![]() |
2022 | 347 GT | 36 m | 9.7 m | 150 | 32.2 | |
AERO 2 Highspeed | ![]() |
2022 | 347 GT | 36 m | 9.7 m | 150 | 32.2 | |
AERO 3 Highspeed | ![]() |
2022 | 347 GT | 36 m | 9.7 m | 150 | 32.2 |
Flyingcat series
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Cars | Knots | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flyingcat 3 | ![]() |
1998 | 613 GT | 47.7 m | 11.8 m | 360 | - | 40 |
Perama Shipyard |
Flyingcat 4 | ![]() |
1999 | 794 GT | 55.1 m | 13 m | 440 | - | 40 |
Piraeus–Saronic |
Flyingcat 5 | ![]() |
1996 | 496 GT | 40 m | 10 m | 337 | - | 30 |
Piraeus–Saronic |
Flyingcat 6 | ![]() |
1997 | 493 GT | 40 m | 10.1 m | 337 | - | 30 |
Piraeus–Saronic |
Flying Dolphin series
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Knots | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flying Dolphin XVII | ![]() |
1984 | 162 GT | 32 m | 6 m | 128 | 30 | |
Flying Dolphin XIX | ![]() |
1983 | 161 GT | 35 m | 6 m | 128 | 40 | |
Flying Dolphin XXIX | ![]() |
1993 | 161 GT | 35 m | 6 m | 128 | 40 |
Current routes
Cyclades
- Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Koufonisi–Amorgos (Highspeed 4)
- Rafina–Tinos–Mykonos–Naxos (Flyingcat 3)
- Lavrio–Kea–Kythnos–Andros–Tinos–Syros–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Sikinos–Folegandros–Kimolos–Milos–Kimolos–Sifnos–Serifos (Artemis)
North Aegean & Dodecanese
- Piraeus–Chios–Mytilene (Nissos Samos & Nissos Rodos)
- Piraeus–Santorini–Vathy–Kos–Symi–Rhodes (Ariadne)
Argosaronikos
- Piraeus–Aegina–Agistri (Flying Dolphin XIX, Aero 1, Aero 2, & Aero 3)
- Piraeus–Poros–Hydra–Ermioni–Spetses–Porto Heli (Flyingcat 4, Flyingcat 5, Flyingcat 6, Aero 1, Aero 2, & Aero 3)
Sporades
Destinations
Mainland Greece |
Cyclades |
Argosaronikos |
North Aegean |
Sporades |
Terminated destinations
Terminated routes
Hellenic Seaways covered itineraries to Chania in Crete island in the summer periods from 2004–2006 with the high-speed vessel Highspeed 4 in 4 hours and 30 minutes, and in summer 2007 with the passenger ferry Ariadne. The company also launched routes from Piraeus to Rethymno port, in Crete with Highspeed 5 in summer 2008. In the summer season of 2010, Hellenic Seaways launched for the first time itineraries from Piraeus to Dodecanese islands, Kos and Rhodes, (through Paros) with the passenger ferry Nissos Rodos, but after an unsuccessful period they were cancelled.
Until early summer 2018, Hellenic Seaways sailed from Heraklion in Crete to Mykonos with calls at the ports of Santorini, Ios and Paros with Highspeed 7. Then, Hellenic Seaways withdrew from the route, due to Highspeed 7 being transferred to Minoan Lines as part of the deal for the sale of Minoan's stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group. The vessel, however, remained in the route under the flag of its new owner and the new name Santorini Palace.
Saronic Ferries joint venture
In late 2013, Hellenic Seaways formed a joint venture with Saronic Gulf rivals Nova Ferries and 2way Ferries. Created to offer better schedules and better prices for the consumers, the joint venture marketed as Saronic Ferries, using four vessels and covering a total of four destinations.[12][13] After selling the ferries Posidon Hellas and Apollon Hellas to 2way Ferries in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Hellenic Seaways left the joint venture.
Awards and nominations
In 2007, Hellenic Seaways was awarded by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards as "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2007", and their then new-building vessel, Nissos Chios, was awarded with the prize of "The Best Ship of the Year 2007".[14] Her sister ship, the Nissos Mykonos, had also won the same award in 2006. In 2014, Hellenic Seaways was again awarded by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards as "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2014".[15]
Former fleet
The following list includes former vessels of the current company and of predecessors Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) and its subsidiaries.
|
|
References
- "Hellenic Seaways - Πάμε Αιγαίο". Hellenic Seaways. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Grimaldi Sells Its Share in Hellenic Seaways". 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- "Sea Star Capital Plc". Sea Star Capital Plc. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- "EasyCruise Sold to Hellenic Seaways". Cruise Industry News. August 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
- .ekathimerini.com 30.09.2011 http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_03/01/2011_371619
- .tornosnews.gr 30.09.2011 http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/transport/ferries/27840-update-attica-holdings-acquires-remaining-hsw-shares-from-minoan-lines.html
- "HSW highspeed fleet". Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- "HSW Flyingcat fleet". Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- "HSW conventional ferries". Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- "Hellenic Seaways". Archived from the original on 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- "Ferry News: Joint venture of ferries to Saronic islands". FerriesInGreece. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- "Θετική η ανταπόκριση της Κοινοπραξίας πλοίων Σαρωνικού για δρομολόγια από και προς Σουβάλα". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
- "Hellenic Seaways". Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- "Hellenic Seaways - Πάμε Αιγαίο". Hellenic Seaways. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2017.